My Seiko 5 - apparently unique and irreplaceable?

[andy400]

I still get sad when I think about it.

My folks bought me a lovely Seiko 5 Automatic for my 15th birthday (some time ago now!!) which I loved and wore daily from then until 2000 when some scabby bd broke into my locker at Winchester sports centre and nicked it.

The insurance paid up but try as I might I could not get one the same, and eventually bought something else (An Omega from a jewellers in Honolulu as it happens - I might have added a bit to the insurance payout....). Eleven years on, and I'm still looking, in the flesh and all over the internet, and I cannot find one the same.

How many would they make of each model? For a £50 (at the time) Seiko to be so very rare and unique seems unlikely, but where are they?

I am thinking I must dig out the paperwork just in case I see one SH in a shop somewhere - a check of serial numbers might reveal it as mine!!

Anyone know of anywhere I can look and research the watch I had?

I also wish I'd done more trawling round the local pawn shops etc at the time - I guess I didn't realise how unique it was.

[LukeBird]

Do you have a pic?

ETA Seiko 5s are far more common in the far east so it could be a difficult to find model over here but more prevalent on the 'net or whatever. I'd put money on you being able to find one.

[andy400]

LukeBird said:

Do you have a pic?

I wish.

I have a picture of me wearing it in about 1993 (still looking for something more recent) - all very much pre-digital. Tried scanning in and zooming but pointless really, no detail visible.

[dtmpower]

Having just returned from Japan - I am sure you could get one from Japan or HK. Nearly every shop I went to was Seiko/Casio heaven

Look on www.rakuten.co.jp - sometimes they have older watches on there.

I have a Seiko SQ100 (5M range) from the similar era (again a gift from my dad) wear it everyday despite having newer better watches. Like it too much and it's light being Titanium.

[andy400]

dtmpower said:

Having just returned from Japan - I am sure you could get one from Japan or HK. Nearly every shop I went to was Seiko/Casio heaven

Look on www.rakuten.co.jp - sometimes they have older watches on there.

I have a Seiko SQ100 (5M range) from the similar era (again a gift from my dad) wear it everyday despite having newer better watches. Like it too much and it's light being Titanium.

Have previously looked in Japan, HK, Singapore, Malaysia and many more. Will check out the site, thanks.

[dtmpower]

Has a thought - why not contact some of the buy a watch type adverts (normally in the back of magazines) They might be able to direct you or might even get these watches from house clearances/widow sales.

[KP328]

Have you tryed ebay? you might get lucky one day and find a similar one.

I don't shop on ebay so not sure how often older seikos are sold though,it was just a thought.

[TheD]

dtmpower said:

Having just returned from Japan - I am sure you could get one from Japan or HK. Nearly every shop I went to was Seiko/Casio heaven

Look on www.rakuten.co.jp - sometimes they have older watches on there.

I have a Seiko SQ100 (5M range) from the similar era (again a gift from my dad) wear it everyday despite having newer better watches. Like it too much and it's light being Titanium.

Just had a look there and although interesting not very cheap. Was a bit disappointed . What is the name of that other site...abaddo or something

[dtmpower]

TheD said:

Just had a look there and although interesting not very cheap. Was a bit disappointed . What is the name of that other site...abaddo or something

Japan was cheap when the exchange rate was £1 = >200YEN , now it's more like £1 = 125YEN

[andy400]

Well, after 11 years I've given up, convinced it's irreplaceable.

I now have this as a '5' replacement:



Very happy with it, though I still get pissed off with the thought of someone out there wearing 'my' old 5......

[dtmpower]

Seems a decent replacement. I know what you mean though. You can't bring back the 'memories'. My dad bought my first watch at 15 and I wear it every day. New watches I have bought myself can't even stop me wearing it.

[LukeBird]

Nice new watch!

Did you dig up the paperwork?
Assuming it's properly stamped, that'll be a surefire way of getting hold of a replacement.

[andy400]

LukeBird said:

Nice new watch!

Did you dig up the paperwork?
Assuming it's properly stamped, that'll be a surefire way of getting hold of a replacement.

Paperwork for the old one? Well, it's almost certainly somewhere in my parents' house.

Just like many other things I haven't seen in a long, long time.....

I did think about contacting the jewellers it came from, to see if they have records, but they don't exist anymore.

[eccles]

andy400 said:

Well, after 11 years I've given up, convinced it's irreplaceable.

I now have this as a '5' replacement:



Very happy with it, though I still get pissed off with the thought of someone out there wearing 'my' old 5......

I've had one of those for several months now (but on the strap ). It's a nice reliable time piece that's stood up to a lot of use/abuse by me.

[andy400]

eccles said:

It's a nice reliable time piece

Appears to be very well made, and bloody accurate.

I set it on Thursday to our 'radio-controlled' clock at home.

Checked it this morning - gained 3 seconds.

In the 11 years I've had it, I don't think my Omega has ever been that accurate.